Meet The Players

Fast-talking auctioneers, both Dan and his wife Laura are MCs, conducting 1,500 auctions a year together.

Hailing from a long line of auctioneers who date back to the 1940's, Dan has been performing auctions since he was 11 years old.

He and Laura run American Auctioneers, a company whose profits are based on percentages of the bids. Having been in the business for 37 years, Dan takes pride in his heirloom “auction chant” (the auctioneer’s rhythm of speech), which he has taught Laura.

Ever the gambler, Darrell has been addicted to the 'high' of storage auctions for 32 years. While others have turned the gambling side of storage buying into steady businesses, Darrell is always going for the “big hit.”

Boasting a big game, Darrell is quick to tell you about the four Picassos and the world’s most lucrative comic book collection that he has scored through storage auctions.

With his son Brandon, Darrell has a small operation based on low volume, no overhead, and high value. If a locker doesn’t have the big score, Darrell will sell it away before he picks through it.

After years in the business, Darrell no longer collects: “The only thing I collect these days is dead presidents.” Darrell takes pride in the adventure and education storage buying has provided him.

It’s a lifestyle and skill set he hopes to pass on to his son.

Though he’s young, Brandon knows more about antiques and artifacts than most history majors. Having learned the trade from his father Darrell, Brandon hopes to establish himself in the auction world.

“It’s a tough game to get into, more senior guys will try to run you out of the business if they don’t like you. They’ll trick you into spending all your money on things that just won’t sell.”

Brandon respects the older class of buyers; when he’s not helping his father or buying his own lockers, Brandon is the constant observer. “I’ve seen my family’s life change from just one locker. I’m life-committed to this now.”

Scrappy and determined, this Long Beach native fights tooth and nail to keep his business alive. He might not have the deepest pockets in the auction game, but he has heart like no other, and is labelled as the “Underdog”.

He is the co-owner of the Now and Then Second Hand Store with his hard-nosed, sharp-tongued wife, Brandi. With Jarrod being more of a risk taker with his bidding, it is Brandi who questions his decisions, making sure Jarrod knows that money doesn’t grow on trees.

Whether it’s in the office or out at the auctions, Brandi will always state her case in their business. And with his business and family on the line at every auction, every bid is crucial.

“I have to turn around my scores quickly because they pay for the next auction. If I don’t flip the items, I can’t bid again.”

Though it may seem Brandi wears the pants in the family, Jarrod is no slacker. Easily fired up and sly as a fox, Jarrod is a master strategist and capable of playing head games with the best of them.

Strict and disciplined, Dave runs a tight ship at his Rags to Riches consignment store. He’s a big fish in the game and has made his money from blood, sweat and tears.

In 2005, after being convicted of a DUI, Dave was forced into community service at a local Goodwill Store. Seeing the potential in such an operation, the then furniture store owner transformed his operation into a thrift store.

The idea changed his life. The son of a military man and train collector, Dave sold his hoarder father’s train collection for a small fortune. (It took him five years to sell the whole collection…it was that big.) He says he’s the total opposite of his father: simple, clean, no clutter, all business.

Of all our bidders, Dave has the largest operation with the largest overhead. He needs every purchased container to produce a profit to feed his massive machine of over 15 employees. Pickers will come to his store to buy art at a low price, but Dave sells his pieces at true price: upwards of $150,000.

Since the age of 15, Barry has made a name for himself as an antique collector. Now at the tender age of 60, Barry dives headfirst into the world of storage auctions.

A Robert Evans-meets-Jack Nicholson type, Barry thinks these auctions are a good place to make a buck. For Barry, buying is a hobby, but one at which he is very proficient. His wealth of knowledge extends from classic cars to war relics, and everything in between.

Barry is always looking for an out-of-the-box approach to get one up against his competition. Whether it’s bringing psychics to an auction, or night vision goggles, Barry lacks no shame in his outlandish tactics. Look to Barry for the great one-liners; he’s never one to bite his tongue.